Air miles are credited in the form of HSBC Reward points. To convert your points into air miles, an annual programme fee of S$40 (subject to GST) applies for enrolment into HSBC's Mileage Programme. Other terms and conditions of the HSBC's Mileage Programme apply.

Customers who cancelled their HSBC Visa Infinite card within the last 12 months are not eligible for the welcome gift when they re-apply for HSBC Visa Infinite Credit Card within 12 months of such cancellation

Apply for this Credit Card between 1st February 2018 to 28th February 2018 (both dates inclusive)

New HSBC customers get S$150 worth of CapitaVouchers on approval of your first HSBC Credit Card. Existing HSBC cardholders get S$100 worth of CapitaVouchers on approval of your next HSBC Credit Card during this offer period

Email the following to support[at]bankbazaar[dot]sg to redeem the voucher a. Scanned copy of your Credit Card approval letter b. The acknowledgement email received from BankBazaar on submitting your application

Apply for this Credit Card between 1st February 2018 to 28th February 2018 (both dates inclusive)

New HSBC customers get S$150 worth of CapitaVouchers on approval of your first HSBC Credit Card. Existing HSBC cardholders get S$100 worth of CapitaVouchers on approval of your next HSBC Credit Card during this offer period

Email the following to support[at]bankbazaar[dot]sg to redeem the voucher a. Scanned copy of your Credit Card approval letter b. The acknowledgement email received from BankBazaar on submitting your application

Apply for this Credit Card between 1st February 2018 to 28th February 2018 (both dates inclusive)

New HSBC customers get S$150 worth of CapitaVouchers on approval of your first HSBC Credit Card. Existing HSBC cardholders get S$100 worth of CapitaVouchers on approval of your next HSBC Credit Card during this offer period

Email the following to support[at]bankbazaar[dot]sg to redeem the voucher a. Scanned copy of your Credit Card approval letter b. The acknowledgement email received from BankBazaar on submitting your application

Apply for this Credit Card between 1st February 2018 to 28th February 2018 (both dates inclusive)

New HSBC customers get S$150 worth of CapitaVouchers on approval of your first HSBC Credit Card. Existing HSBC cardholders get S$100 worth of CapitaVouchers on approval of your next HSBC Credit Card during this offer period

Email the following to support[at]bankbazaar[dot]sg to redeem the voucher a. Scanned copy of your Credit Card approval letter b. The acknowledgement email received from BankBazaar on submitting your application

Apply for this Credit Card between 1st February 2018 to 28th February 2018 (both dates inclusive)

New Citi customers get S$150 worth of CapitaVouchers on approval of your first Citi Credit Card during this offer period

Email the following to support[at]bankbazaar[dot]sg to redeem the voucher a. Scanned copy of your Credit Card approval letter b. The acknowledgement email received from BankBazaar on submitting your application

Reebonz: Spend a minimum amount of S$800 online on the Reeboz website and get a discount of 15% until 31 March 2018

Love, Bonito: Spend a minimum amount of S$150 at Love, Bonito online and/or Flagship Store and enjoy a discount of S$25. The discount is valid on all items, including items on sale until 28 February 2018

Documents required: Salaried individuals: Copy of NRIC or Passport AND Most recent computerised original payslip or Income Tax Notice of Assessment or CPF Statements for the past 12 months.

Documents required: Self-employed individuals: Copy of NRIC or Passport and Income Tax Notice of Assessment for the past 2 years and Bank statements for the past 3 months.

Documents required: Foreigners: Copy of Passport and Copy of Work Permit and Copy of your telephone/utility bill or bank statement that contains your name and address and Most recent computerised original payslip and Income Tax Notice of Assessment.

Apply for this Credit Card between 1st February 2018 to 28th February 2018 (both dates inclusive)

New Citi customers get S$150 worth of CapitaVouchers on approval of your first Citi Credit Card during this offer period

Email the following to support[at]bankbazaar[dot]sg to redeem the voucher a. Scanned copy of your Credit Card approval letter b. The acknowledgement email received from BankBazaar on submitting your application

Apply for this Credit Card between 1st February 2018 to 28th February 2018 (both dates inclusive)

New Citi customers get S$150 worth of CapitaVouchers on approval of your first Citi Credit Card during this offer period

Email the following to support[at]bankbazaar[dot]sg to redeem the voucher a. Scanned copy of your Credit Card approval letter b. The acknowledgement email received from BankBazaar on submitting your application

Apply for this Credit Card between 1st February 2018 to 28th February 2018 (both dates inclusive)

New Citi customers get S$150 worth of CapitaVouchers on approval of your first Citi Credit Card during this offer period

Email the following to support[at]bankbazaar[dot]sg to redeem the voucher a. Scanned copy of your Credit Card approval letter b. The acknowledgement email received from BankBazaar on submitting your application

I authorize BankBazaar to use my information and call/email me to complete/update the status of my application (notwithstanding my Do Not Call registration). I agree that BankBazaar and its representatives (located in Singapore or elsewhere) may record our interactions for service-related purposes. I have accepted BankBazaar’s
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terms.

Credit card

The matter of how a credit card is to be used is always up to you. However, the first step is always, with caution. Due to high interest rates, it is easy to bury yourself in debt if you use the card without care. But, what if you are careful, how are you to use the card then? The best way is to ensure that you use each card in its category. That is to say that you use a travel card for travel, a cashback card for purchases that give the most cashback, and a card that offers points where you can earn the most points. There are other things too that you must take into consideration and that is why you will need to take a look at our section on How to Use Credit Cards.

TIP OF THE DAY

Tip 9#

Checkup penalties: When you take out a personal loan you assume that you will be able to make the payments on time. But there may be chances of you missing out on a payment for a month or two. To make sure that you are not in for a surprise when you see how much you have to pay, make sure you check with your bank about interest rates for late payments.

Why BankBazaar?

BankBazaar is an online financial services portal that provides end-to-end support for all your credit card, loan, and insurance requirements.

Get up-to-date information on cards from various banks in simple, easy-to-understand format and compare them based on insightful research articles, reviews, and data from online tools. Once you have decided on a product, BankBazaar will guide you through the paperwork required to purchase it.

The site also provides you frequent customised promotional offers. Certain handpicked cards are available exclusively through BankBazaar.

Offers from Our Partners

BankBazaar frequently provides promotional offers on various cards. At present, applicants of certain HSBC and Citi Singapore cards get CapitaVouchers.

On approval of your first HSBC card, you will receive vouchers worth S$150. Those already holding an HSBC card will receive vouchers worth S$100 if they apply for another card. For Citi, the first-time-card customers will get vouchers valued up to S$150. These offers are subject to terms and conditions, which can be viewed here.

Want a S$150 Capita Voucher? Apply for HSBC credit cards, get the application approved and it's yours!Apply Now

If you are looking for the right credit card for you, check out our 21 results from 4 banks now. This information was last updated on 19 February 2018.

A credit card is very different from debit cards and prepaid cards but not so different from charge cards. While debit cards and prepaid cards are limited to money already in an account or loaded onto a prepaid card, charge cards offer credit without predefined limits such as with credit cards. This means that with such cards, even if you don’t have money in the bank, you can still go shopping and pay it back when you do have the money. To provide this facility, the bank will charge an interest on the amount which is spent on the card and since this interest rate can be high, more than 23% p.a., caution is advised when using such cards.

But credit and high interest rates are not the only things that these cards offer. They also offer other facilities like rewards programmes, promotions and balance transfer facilities. While rewards programmes can range from earning miles or points to earning cashback and cash rebates, promotions are slightly different. They offer discounts on purchases you may make using the card. And, finally, the balance transfer facilities allow you to use one card to absorb what you owe on another card.

With their ever-increasing popularity in Singapore, financial institutions are continuously pressed to offer cards with attractive benefits and rewards. Making a list of best cards is a tough task as different people have different needs that would determine their card preferences. But based on general criteria, here is a list of top cards in the country along with their main features:

Best Card for Miles

These cards are popular among frequent or even casual travellers for the benefits they provide on travel-related expenses. Several banks and financial institutions offer miles cards with nearly equal benefits but among them, a card from DBS stands out.

DBS Altitude Visa Signature Card

Get 3 miles for every dollar spent online for hotel and flight transactions through leading merchant sites.

Get 2 miles for every dollar spent abroad in a foreign currency. 1.2 miles for every dollar spent in Singapore.

Access to over a thousand lounges at airports around the world.

Spend S$25,000 and get the annual fee waived from the second year onwards.

Best Card for Petrol

If you own a vehicle or are responsible for paying for petrol, a card that offers fuel-related benefits is a great option. One of the best cards in this regard is the Citi Cash Back Card.

Citi Cash Back Card

Receive up to 8% cashback on petrol stations around the world.

The bank may provide additional promotional offers with fuel companies like Esso and Shell occasionally.

Best Card for Online Shopping

Online shoppers would require a card that offers benefits like cashback, rebates, or reward points on transactions made on the internet. One of the best cards in this category is from HSBC:

HSBC Revolution Card

Receive 5 rewards on every dollar spent on online transactions. This includes transactions such as insurance premium payments as well.

There is no minimum spend requirement to be eligible for the points.

Best Card with No Annual Fee

Most cards have annual fees and, in many cases, the higher the fee, the better the features and benefits offered. But this does not mean that cards with no fees should not be considered. Here is one of the top zero-fee cards currently available in the market:

Receive 0.2% cash rebate on all local and international payments. There is no limit to the rebate that can be earned this way.

Pay for travel fares using the card and receive travel insurance worth up to S$500,000.

Best Card for Everyday Spending

To most average customers, a card that offers benefits on their everyday transactions is the best option. This could range from payments made at grocery stores to taxis and utilities. POSB offers a top card in this category:

POSB Everyday Card

Receive 5% cash rebate when shopping for groceries at Sheng Siong.

Receive 1% cash rebate on payment of utility bills from SP Group and telecom bills from StarHub.

Receive 3% cash rebate at Watsons.

There is no expiry date for the cash rebates that you may earn.

Best Card for Travel

Given the increasing number of overseas travellers in Singapore, banks, and financial institutions offer several cards with travel-related benefits. Here is one of the best among them:

HSBC Visa Infinite Card

Receive access to more than 700 VIP lounges at airports any number of times across the world.

Enjoy limousine transfer to Changi Airport from anywhere in the country.

Receive priority immigration clearance at your destination.

Receive travel insurance with coverage worth $2 million.

The card allows you to earn miles at a quick pace. In the first year earn 1 air mile for S$1 spent in Singapore and 2 air miles for S$1 spent abroad. From the second year, earn 1.25 air miles for S$1 spent locally and 2.25 air miles for S$1 spent abroad.

Enjoy special privileges, including VIP guest status, at top hotels worldwide.

Best Card for Dining

Dining cards are popular among customers who spend a significant amount eating out. These cards offer benefits in the form of cashback, points, etc. when you make payments at restaurants and other food outlets. Here is one of the best dining card out there:

OCBC 365 Card

Receive 6% cashback when dining out at eateries across the country on weekends.

Receive 3% cashback on weekday dining within the country.

Get 3% cashback when you dine abroad.

Best Card for Entertainment

A card that offers you benefits on entertainment-related expenses is a good choice if you spend considerable amounts at cinemas, bars, nightclubs, lounges, etc. Below is one of the best entertainment cards available in the country:

UOB YOLO Card

Receive 8% rebate on entertainment expenses on weekends.

On weekdays, receive 3% rebate on payments for entertainment experiences.

S$30,000 to S$120,000
Some cards offer concessions for individuals aged 55 or above.

Here are all the key features offered by credit cards that define the financial system and make it easier for both the bank and the customer:

Easy to obtain:

You don’t have to put up any security with the bank to get a credit card. Most banks will approve your credit card request instantly. The approval is dependent solely on the veracity of your documents, your income level, and credit score. The card might even be delivered to you on the same day of getting approval, though some banks may take up to 7 working days to process your application and dispatch the card.

Credit limit:

Credit limit is the maximum amount of money you can borrow through your credit card. For example, let’s say your card has a credit limit of S$6,000. Once you have spent S$6,000 on your credit card, you won’t be able to use it any more until you repay some of the amount. If you spend S$1,000 in a particular month, with no past dues, the credit limit at the end of the month would be S$5,000. The repayment you make every month adds liquidity back to your credit card. So if you pay the complete bill of S$1,000 before due date in that month, your credit limit will stay intact. If you’re paying S$500, then the credit limit will be S$5,500. If you pay S$2,000 instead of S$1,000 on the bill, then your credit limit will increase to S$7,000. You can get temporary credit limit hikes from the bank in case of overseas travel or personal emergencies. You can even get a permanent credit limit increase if your salary has gone up considerably.

Effective Interest Rate (EIR):

EIR is the actual cost of owning a credit card. It is the interest rate per day on your outstanding payments. Credit card issuers in Singapore advertise the EIR rather than the APR, because the effective interest rate is a better reflection of how much the card will cost you if you do not pay your bills on time. The EIR for credit cards in Singapore ranges from 15% to 27%.

Grace period:

This is the number of days you get to save interest on your bill. If pay your bill within the grace period, even if it is after the due date of the bill, the bank will not charge an interest on the outstanding amount. So if your credit card’s grace period is 21 days, and your billing date is 5th February, 2017, then you have time until 25th February to pay your bill and avoid interest charges.

Security:

All credit cards in Singapore are equipped with EMV-compliant electronic chips. EMV is a credit card safety standard developed by Europay, MasterCard and Visa, which ensures global acceptance and security while using. EMV chips make it almost impossible for fraudsters to hack into your personal and financial information, thereby preventing credit card hacking or cloning, and identity theft. This feature ensures that today’s credit cards are many times safer to use at point of sale (POS) devices, than the earlier magnetic stripe cards. Apart from this, one-time passwords (OTPs), 3D secure sign-in passwords, and Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) make sure that your credit card is as safe as possible.

Credit card statement:

Unlike personal loans where you only get bank intimation on balance and upcoming payments, credit card companies send out bills on a monthly basis. This bill will contain your personal and card details, all your card transactions done during the period, the outstanding amount, the payment you made the previous month, the charges applicable on the balance, the due date for bill payment, credit limit balance, the rewards you have earned through your transactions, among other relevant information. You can get a physical copy of the bill sent to your personal or official address, but most Singaporeans prefer their bills sent to their registered email id as it is faster and easily accessible.

Let us now look at some of the benefits and privileges offered by credit cards in Singapore:

Easy and convenient use:

Cashback Credit Cards No one can deny that credit cards are easy to carry around and use. It allows you to make purchases as you want and whenever you want. You can use it online as well as at stores. You can buy both an item for S$1 and something costing S$1,000 with a credit card.

Useful in emergencies:

If you come face to face with an unexpected expense, wherein you cannot arrange alternative funds quickly, you can depend on the credit card. If your card’s credit limit does not allow you to spend as much as you need, you can contact the bank and get a temporary credit limit increase to help you tide over the situation.

Rewards & bonus points:

Each credit card has its own way of rewarding your transactions. Credit cards in Singapore offer a variety of perks such as cashback, cash rebate, reward points, and air miles. This means that for each purchase you make, you are getting a small percentage of it back in one form or another. Bonus points are given if you make purchases with specific partner outlets, or if you spend more than a certain amount every month, etc. Many credit cards also come with welcome gifts such as luggage and cashback, and welcome bonuses such as 15,000 air miles or 10,000 reward points.

Discounts & perks:

Credit cards also give us exclusive discounts at various online and offline merchants, special offers that change annually or quarterly, and promotional deals during festival seasons.

Complementary insurance:

Many credit cards offer free travel insurance on charging the flight tickets to the card. Other insurance products that are complimentary with a credit card include e-commerce protection, and card loss protection. Some cards also give discounts on insurance purchases and premium payments made through them.

Concierge services:

Many high-end credit cards allow you to use concierge services for travel planning, hotel bookings, table reservations, event and show bookings, and other conveniences.

Cash advance:

If you are in urgent need of money, you can withdraw money from your credit card. This will be an extension of your unsecured loan. You can only withdraw as much amount as your credit limit permits. The interest rate for cash withdrawal is higher than the interest on your credit card, and could go up to 30%. There is also a cash advance fee of 5% to 6% of the borrowed amount.

Instalment Payment Plans:

Credit cards also allow you to reduce your costs by buying goods and services on zero-interest instalment. This means that instead of paying the whole amount for your purchase on the spot, you can pay it to the bank in Equated Monthly Instalments (EMI) for a fixed period of up to 3 years. Each bank has a different kind of instalment payment and flexible payment plans.

Balance transfer:

If you are not satisfied with the rewards and services of your current credit card, you can transfer the balance to another credit card. Essentially, you’re allowing another credit card company to buy out your current debt. Banks offer attractive 0% interest balance transfer plans to help you manage your debt.

Rewards are benefits that the credit card issuer offers you for using the card for various transactions. Every credit card company or issuer offers these rewards in various forms. You may use it to redeem for cashback, vouchers, air miles, gifts or rebates. In this aspect, rewards are versatile as you can decide to redeem them across categories.

Banks may also call it differently like reward points, name of bank+dollars or name of bank+points, among others, but they all function in a similar manner.

Usual terms of rewards programmes:

They will not be credited to your card for all purchases or transactions. The bank may determine the merchants or e-commerce portals or even restaurants where your spending could earn you reward points.

Purchases or transactions at other places might still earn you some rewards, but it is lower than when you shop with the eligible partners.

There could be a limit to how many reward points you need to accumulate before you start redeeming them.

There may be a minimum spend requirement in order to be eligible to earn reward points.

Additionally, credit card issuers may allow you to redeem your reward points only from partnered merchants.

Doing the math:

Suppose a card rewards you in the following ways:

For every S$1 you spend online, for dining and entertainment, you get 5 times the reward points.

On all your other purchases, you gain 1 Rewards point for every S$1 you spend.

There is no minimum spend requirement.

The table below will give an idea of how these rewards points can actually be useful for you:

Spend category

Amount spent

Reward Points

Dining and entertainment

S$800

4,000

Online shopping

S$500

2,500

other

S$500

500

Total

S$2,000

7,000

So, for a total spend of S$2,000 per month, you will gain 7,000 rewards points according to the terms of the card. These rewards points can be used to redeem gift vouchers, air miles, cash rebate, etc. as determined by the bank. However, the minimum spend might differ between banks as well as the terms of rewards might change. For the latest rewards programme, you need to check your card issuer’s website.

Credit Card Cash Rebate Programme

Every credit card issuer encourages its customers to use their card for various purchases. To entice continued use, it provides customers with various benefits in the form of rewards which can be used to redeem vouchers, gifts, cashback and rebate. In simple words, it is an incentive programme for customers.

A rebate is also a kind of cashback, where, you get back a percentage of the money you spend on certain purchases, as deemed eligible by the credit card issuer.

However, unlike cashback, you will not be able to cash the amount. The percentage of purchase that you get can be used to offset other purchases. This could be a very important tool for planning your monthly budget.

Usual terms of cash rebate programmes:

The rebate offered may be limited to the merchants that are partnered with the bank. There are, however some credit cards which offer a lower percentage of rebate should you purchase from other places.

These rebates may be credited to your account only if you spend the minimum amount set by the credit card issuer. In case you spent less than that, there could be a lower percentage of rebate, depending on the issuer.

There could be a limit to how much rebate you can earn on your credit card spends.

Rebates may be applicable only for purchases made in certain categories as determined by the bank.

Doing the math:

Suppose your card offers the following terms for cash rebate:

3% rebate for

weekday dining & entertainment

Online shopping

Paying for travel with the card

All other purchases will get you 0.3% rebate.

You have to spend a minimum amount of S$600 per month to be eligible for the rebate.

Let us look at an illustration in the table below to understand how it works out for you in a month:

Category

Amount spent in a month

Rebate

Weekday dining & entertainment

S$500

S$15

Online shopping

S$400

S$12

Paying for travel with the card

S$700

S$21

Total

S$1,600

S$48

For a total spend of S$1,600, you get a rebate of S$48. In case your total spend for a month was less than S$600, you will have to be content with a rebate of 0.3% on all spends.

There could be various promotions offered by banks from time to time which might offer higher rebates for a specific time-period. Understanding how rebates work will help you choose the best card to serve your purpose.

Cashback on credit cards

Cashback refers to a reward benefit or an incentive program that you receive from a credit card company. When you use your card for purchases, a percentage of the amount is paid back to the cardholder and this is referred to as cashback.

How does cashback work?

Most credit cards offer cashback as a reward program to its customers. While a few banks cap the amount that can be earned for the respective month, other credit cards do not have any cap on the how much you can earn.

For instance, if you are getting a cashback of 5% on grocery spends, this may be capped at S$50 per month and may require you to have a minimum card spend of S$200 every month. In case you do not spend S$200 on your groceries but spend S$200 on any other purchases, you may receive a flat rate of 0.50% that will amount to S$1.

If you consider this illustration, by spending S$200 on your groceries, you will get 5% cashback that equals to S$10 as opposed to S$1 when you do not meet the minimum spend requirement.

While there are plenty of credit cards that offer this benefit, not all of them give cashback for all the purchases you make. You may have to spend on select categories to reap this benefit.

Will I save money using cashback?

Credit card companies will provide cashback on specific spends such as groceries, dining, petrol, etc. When you spend on these particular categories, you will enjoy better savings. Some credit card companies will only provide cashback if you spend a minimum amount per month. However there are credit cards that offer a flat cashback rate on ALL purchases made using that credit card, but the rate will be lower when compared to cards that offer higher cashback on specific spend categories.

Along with the reward programs, credit cards offer promotions in Singapore. These are generally announced in association with specific merchants. Such promotions can be categorised into segments like shopping, dining, electronics, lifestyle etc. What they do is to offer you a discount on the services that specific merchants are offering. For example, you may have dining credit card and it might be offering a discount of 20% on all the a-la-carte orders at specific restaurants, or you may have a lifestyle credit card that offers a 15% discount on gym memberships at specific gyms.

One thing to keep in mind with these promotions is that they are subject to certain terms and conditions. This means that there could be an expiry date for the promotions. There could also be a condition that says that these promotions are valid only if you use the credit card to pay for the goods or services. They could also be available only for specific products being sold and not all the products available with the merchants. So, before you go and buy anything with your credit card, it is always a good idea to check with the available promotions for your card to see if there are any promotions that you could take advantage of.

Interest rate is the amount charged by the bank as a service charge on the money you borrowed. This interest rate is applied to credit card balance only if you fail to pay the whole amount by the due date or by the end of the grace period. Interest on credit card is charged on a daily basis for the number of days that you keep the payment pending. So if your credit card bill is S$1,200, and you pay S$1,000 before due date, then you will have to pay interest rate only on S$200, until you make the next payment.

Retail interest rate:

It is the annual or monthly interest rate charged on the card and is also known as the prime rate. The interest rate is charged on cash advances and on outstanding balances i.e. the balance amounts that are not paid in full within the due date.

Cash Withdrawal interest rates & charges:

They refer to the interest rates and charges applicable on cash withdrawn using the credit card. For cash withdrawals, interest is charged on the withdrawal amount from the time of withdrawal till the amount is paid in full.

Credit score grade of AA? What are you waiting for?? Apply for a credit card already!Apply Now

Credit Card Interest Rates

Before you get a credit card, it is important you understand how the interest is calculated, if you have not paid the complete bill amount. There are various finance assessment tools that will help you calculate the minimum amount, the total interest that must be paid, and the next payment due against the unsettled balance. Some key components used to calculate the interest amount are the annual interest rate, the amount paid, minimum payment percentage and the total bill.

If you have failed to pay your bills on time, you will accumulate a short term loan for which you must pay a higher interest rate. If you pay just the minimum required amount on your card bill, you will have to pay interest on a daily basis. Interest will be charged on the unsettled balance from the statement date and on new expenses charged to your card within the billing cycle.

If you have delayed your payments or gone over your credit limit in any month, then these charges (late payment fee, over-limit fee, etc.) are also added to the calculation towards your interest rate.

Let us take a simple example. For example, consider a credit card with an Annual Percentage Rate of 26% p.a. which has a billing cycle of 30 days. Assume that the unsettled balance is S$1,000 and you pay only the minimum amount which is 25% of the unsettled balance.

Minimum payment = 25% x 1,000 = S$250

If you have no new charges associated with the card in the same period, then –

Unsettled payment = (1,000 – 250) = S$750

Total interest = Unsettled payment x (APR/365) x Number of days in a billing cycle ? 100

The interest accrued on this amount for the next bill will be around S$16. If you incur no other expense, you will end up with a bill of S$766 the next month, and the minimum payment amount will be S$191.50. If this behaviour goes on, you will keep paying interest charges, albeit not appearing to be very high, and the total payments to the bank towards the end would become a high number.

To avoid paying such hefty amount, it is always advisable to pay the entire amount, or as much as you can, on your credit card statement each month.

Credit cards are subject to various fees and charges. Many of these charges are not well known. Let’s look at the key fees you need to know about:

Annual Fees on Credit Card:

Annual fee is the maintenance fee or administrative fee of a credit card. The annual fee is determined by the bank according to the privileges and perks afforded by each card. There are cards with zero annual fee, cards with an annual fee of S$150, and even cards that cost more than S$750 per year. Some banks may give annual fee waiver for the first year, or 2-3 years. Many banks also allow an annual fee waiver if you spend beyond a particular amount in a year. Annual fees are applicable to both primary and supplementary cards, and supplementary card fee is generally half of the annual fee for the principal card. Additionally, Goods and Service Tax (GST) is also applicable on this fee. Credit card maintenance being a service provided by a bank, the banks have to charge service tax on this component. For example, the annual fee for OCBC Frank card is S$80 for the primary card and S$40 for the supplementary card, while Standard Chartered Visa Infinite card costs S$350 for the primary and S$175 for the supplementary.

Check out the top Credit Card options available in Singapore. Kindly note that these numbers are applicable when the applicant’s monthly income ranges from S$2,000 to S$3,500.

Credit Cards

Annual Fees

Minimum Annual Income in Singapore

Amex Singapore Airlines PPS Club Credit Card

S$551.05

S$30,000

BOC Shop! Credit Card

S$150

S$30,000

CIMB Visa Signature Credit Card

Nil

S$30,000

Citibank Dividend Credit Card

S$192.60

S$30,000

DBS Live Fresh Visa Credit Card

S$128.40

S$30,000

HSBC Revolution Credit Card

S$150

S$30,000

Maybank Family & Friends Credit Card

S$80

S$30,000

OCBC 365 Credit Card

S$192.60

S$30,000

POSB Everyday Credit Card

S$128.40

S$30,000

UOB Lady's Credit Card

S$406.60

S$30,000

Supplementary annual fee:

It is a yearly fee charged for the supplementary or add-on cards. Some banks offer up to 2 supplementary cards for free i.e. no additional annual fees are charged for these cards.

International Transaction Charges:

Foreign Currency Conversion Fees:

This is the fee charged when you use your credit card overseas or for online shopping from non-Singapore sites. The bank and the payment system (Visa/MasterCard/American Express/UnionPay, etc.) both impose a percentage of the transaction amount as administrative or handling fees. Foreign currency fee consists of currency conversion fee and administrative fee. Currency conversion charges are applicable because you will be paying for an item or service in the currency of the country you are in, and not in Singapore dollars. If it is a non-US dollar currency then the Singapore dollars are first converted into US dollars and then into the other currency.

Dynamic Currency Conversion Fee:

Some merchants have payment machines equipped with dynamic currency conversion. If you’re using this, your bill will contain a dynamic currency conversion fee, which is charged only by your payment system. With this, you can pay in Singapore dollars and the merchant will convert as per the day’s conversion rate between the currencies, and not through conversion via US dollars.

Cash Advance Fees:

Withdrawing money from your credit card attracts not only a high interest rate but also a cash advance fee. This fee is applicable on the amount that you withdraw. The usual cash advance fee charged by banks in Singapore is 5% to 6% of the withdrawn amount. For instance, if you withdraw S$1,000, a cash advance fee of S$50 to S$60 will be added to your credit card bill.

Late payment charges:

If you do not pay at least the minimum amount required on your credit card bill by the last date for payment, the late payment fee will be charged. Most banks charge a flat rate of S$60 to S$80 as late payment charges. Even if you pay just 1 day late, and even if you pay the whole bill amount a day late, this fee will be charged.

Over-limit fee:

If you spend more on your credit card than the credit limit approved for you, then banks charge an over-limit fee. This fee could go up to S$50 or 5% of the over-limit amount.

Finance Charge:

It refers to the fees, interest and other charges associated with using the credit card.

Other fees:

There are several other fees applicable on credit cards – always check the cardmembers’ agreement or the pricing sheet of banks to know all the fees relevant to your card. Some of these fees are:

Reward redemption fees:

Applicable if you convert your reward points into miles or vouchers.

Card replacement fee:

Applicable if you lose your card and need a new one.

Termination fee on 0% IPP and other flexible payment plans: Applicable if you pay off all your instalments without waiting for the chosen tenure to end.

Returned cheque charges:

Applicable if you pay the credit card bill via cheque and the cheque bounces due to lack of funds in your account.

Sales draft or statement retrieval fees: Applicable if you ask for a physical copy of your sales draft or credit card statement.

Credit cards are of different kinds, in terms of their utilisation purpose. Let us look at some of the common classifications of credit cards in Singapore:

Cashback Credit Cards: These cards allow you to get back a certain percentage of the amount you spend.

Rewards Credit Cards: These credit cards give you reward points for your purchases. These reward points can be converted into discount vouchers for various goods and services, cash rebates on bills, or air miles.

Travel Credit Cards: These cards give you rewards in the form of air miles, free travel insurance, and discounts on flight tickets, hotel bookings, taxi bookings, etc. These cards are also known as Air Miles Credit Cards.

Dining Credit Cards: These credit cards give special deals, discounts, and extra cashback or reward points on dining out at restaurants, hotels and fast-food joints or cafes.

Business Credit Cards: These credit cards are for businesses and companies. Business credit cards offer savings on bulk credit card orders for the staff, allow you to track and monitor how finances are used in the company, and might extend loans at easier terms.

Invitation-Only Credit Cards: These cards are exclusive, premium or elite credit cards that can only be obtained if the bank invites you to try it out. These invitation-only cards come with high-end privileges such as personal concierge and endless miles and reward points.

You can apply for a credit card either by going to the nearest branch of the bank that you want the card from, or by going to the website of the bank. If you are applying at the branch, ensure that you take all the required documents – NRIC, income proofs, and photographs – with you. If you’re applying online, you can either leave a message with the bank to call you back and explain the card terms, or apply directly. When applying directly, you need to fill an online application form and submit scanned copies of your documents. The bank will verify your details and check your credit score before approving your application. Online applications are more popular these days and banks give additional rewards on online applications.

Why should you Look for Credit Card with BankBazaar.sg?

BankBazaar.sg is not just a knowledge portal, but also a place where you can compare and apply for credit cards directly. The advantages we have are:

Apply directly: Now you can apply for your favourite card directly from BankBazaar.sg – you don’t even need to go to the bank’s website. We will take care of your application and processing while you sit back and slurp that cup of coffee.

Choices: Every credit card available in Singapore is listed and explained in detail.

Save time: You can get all the information you need about any credit card in Singapore from the site. You don’t have to search across the internet individually.

Compare and review: You can compare all the cards and choose the one that suits you the best.

Be prepared: We also tell you the eligibility criteria, the required documentation, and the fine print of credit cards. Everything you need to be prepared for a credit card application is on BankBazaar.sg.

Second opinions: Apart from the main website, there is also the BankBazaar.sg Blog that gives you reader-friendly material. You can also read reviews from other users to help you decide what is best for you.

24x7 support: Have a query? We are just an email, phone call or chat-box away.

100% safe: All your personal and financial information is treated with maximum care and caution, and you can rest assured that no mismanagement or misappropriation happens.

Effects of Credit History on Credit Card Application Process in Singapore

Your credit history will play a very important role in the application process. Before approving your application, the bank will check your credit history with the credit bureaus (CBS and DP Credit Bureau) to determine your credit worthiness. If they find that you have defaulted on payments in the past, they are most likely to reject your application. On the other hand, they are more likely to accept your credit card application if your credit history shows that you are very prompt in making payments.

How Credit Debt Can Impact on your Credit Card Application Process in Singapore?

Your current credit card debt affect your credit score and in turn it may affect the bank’s decision to approve or reject your card application. If you have a lot of unpaid debts on your existing card, you may not be able to get another card. Hence, you will need to pay off your credit card balances or at least reduce them significantly before you decide to apply for a new credit card.

All the credit cards available in Singapore are easily obtainable for Singapore citizens and permanent residents, than for foreigners living in Singapore. Though credit cards for foreigners are not impossible to get, they are difficult to get. Foreigners are persons who live in Singapore or have come for a short or long visit to Singapore, but do not have any identification documents issued by Singapore, except perhaps work permit and other related papers.

To get a credit card from a Singapore bank, foreigners have to have a higher income than Singapore citizens and permanent residents, and a different set of documents are required. Each bank and credit card will have its own set of minimum income requirements from a foreigner. For example, a Singapore citizen or permanent resident can get a an HSBC Revolution Credit Card if they have an annual income of S$30,000 or more, but for foreigners to get this card, they need to earn at least S$40,000 or equivalent in another currency per year.

How to Find Best Credit Cards for Overseas Spending in Singapore?

One of the best things about credit cards is that you can use it as well inside Singapore as abroad. But, not all credit cards are good for use outside Singapore. This is because of the foreign currency transaction fee levied on credit cards. With a foreign currency transaction fee, you will end up spending more for every purchase you make overseas. If your card charges a foreign currency fee of 2.5%, for example, then your purchases worth S$1,000 in Australia would actually cost you S$25 more.

So those who anticipate a lot of overseas transactions must go for a credit card for overseas spending. This could be credit cards that do not charge any or part of the foreign currency transaction fee, or cards that give higher rewards on overseas payments. More rewards mean more savings, and a chance to reduce or nullify the burden imposed by the extra fees.

Tips To Avoid Credit Card Debts in Singapore

Credit card debt trap occurs when your credit card outstanding balance is very high and you do not have the means to pay it off in the near future. Because credit card interest rates are high, and there are several other fees and charges payable on a card, some of your credit card usage habits increase the chances of you getting into credit card debt. Let us look at the financial discipline needed to avoid credit card debt:

Pay your bills regularly: You must never skip a credit card payment. If you do not pay your bill on or before the due date, you will attract late payment fees and high interest charges. Moreover, it will be considered as a default and marked down in your credit report.

Pay as much outstanding balance as possible: Try to pay as much of the bill – fully if possible – every month. This will help decrease the interest you pay to the bank as well as keep the debt within your means of paying off.

Never pay just the minimum amount every month: If your credit card bill says that the minimum amount you need to pay is just 3% of the outstanding bill, it does not mean that is the only money you need to pay. The minimum amount merely keeps your card active – it does not reduce your costs. In fact, it increases your debt burden heavily, as interest charges are added to your outstanding amount each month.

Do not spend more than you earn: Credit cards are a boon when you want to buy a costly item that you could otherwise not have been able to afford with your monthly salary. However, constantly making large purchases on your credit card will lead to an enormous bill that will, within a few months, become more than what you can pay back. Make a budget for your monthly expenses and stick to it. Of course you can buy an occasional big-ticket item, but don’t make it a habit.

Do not make cash withdrawals unless absolutely necessary: It is very convenient to withdraw cash from your credit card in times of need, but cash advances attract very high interest rate (over 30%), in addition to a cash advance fee of 5% to 6% of your withdrawal amount. It would be better to opt for a credit line or personal loan, which comes at a comparatively lower interest rate.

Go for credit card balance transfer if the current card is too costly: If you are unable to manage the debt on the current card, shift to a lower-interest credit card through the balance transfer option. This will help consolidate your debt and reduce your repayments in the long term.

Do not own multiple credit cards: One credit card is necessity, two are useful, but 3 or more are a luxury. Unless your usage is low or your repayment capacity is very high, do not apply for more than 2 credit cards. The more the cards, the more likely you’re to spend, and the higher the eventual debt would be.

Prioritise bill payments: If you have more than one credit card, always pay the maximum amount of the card that has a higher interest rate. This will help reduce your eventual debt burden.

Don’t overshoot the credit limit: Your credit limit is decided based on your monthly income and repayment capacity. In ideal situations, you should be using not more than 30% of your credit limit. So if your credit limit is S$5,000, you should keep your balance lower than S$1,500. This will ensure that you will never be burdened with a debt that you cannot manage. Moreover, over-shooting the credit limit attracts an over-limit fee. Also, you will not be able to use your card until you pay off the outstanding amount and bring down your credit limit.

How Your Credit Card & Credit Score are Related?

Credit report is a document which lists your credit history and analyses it to come out with a credit score that reflects your repayment capacity and risk level as a borrower. Lenders refer to your credit report and credit score each time you apply for a new loan. Credit cards are an important part of your credit report. Credit cards are the easiest way to build a credit history, as you tend to use a credit card very frequently through the month. However, misuse or improper use of credit cards can as easily damage your credit score. Non-payment of dues will count as instances of default on a credit report, while over-shooting your credit limit will increase your credit exposure. All negative factors of your credit history will bring the credit score down. A low credit score means that you will not be able to get a new loan – say, a home loan – when you really need it. Cautious and conscientious use of credit card, on the other hand, will help you build a good credit history and give you an acceptable credit score.

Loans on Credit Card Vs Personal Loan, Which is Best?

One of the biggest benefits of credit cards is that credit card bills are easier to manage than personal loans. Credit cards give you flexibility in repayment while personal loans have a fixed monthly repayment schedule. Even though credit cards have a higher interest rate, it is easy to avoid credit card interest rate through on-time payments and full payments. Personal loan interest rate cannot be avoided as Equated Monthly Instalments (EMIs) are determined after factoring in the interest rate. You can pay off a credit card bill in full and start afresh, but if you wish to pay a personal loan in full, you may have to bear pre-payment charges. Also, credit card annual fees are much lower than the processing fees charged on personal loans. Last but not the least, credit cards come with discounts, promotional offers and rewards, while personal loans have no incentives associated with them.

Tips While Taking Loans on Credit Card

If you have a credit card, you can also get a personal credit line from the same bank. Personal line of credit allows you to borrow when you want, as long as you repay regularly. Cash loan on credit cards are also easier to get and hassle-free compared to personal loans.

How to Transfer Credit Card Balance in Singapore?

If your current credit card is not working out for you for any reason – its interest rate is high, or it has high annual fees, or it does not reward your purchases as you want – then you can transfer your credit card balance from one card to another within the bank, or from one bank to another.

Many banks offer credit card balance transfer plans under which you can spread out your current credit card balance into 6-month or 1-year payment schedule at a low interest rate. This will help you in debt consolidation and reducing your outstanding debt. When you choose a card to transfer your current credit card balance to, ensure that you’re selecting a credit card that is more suitable to your spending patterns and needs, without being too costly in terms of interest rate and annual fee.

Do's & Don'ts While Using Credit Card

Do

Don’t

Compare all the available options. (Either manually or using a third party comparison tool)

Settle for the card with the ‘shock’ value. (Short term offers will end, look at the long term)

To know whether or not you qualify for a credit card, you need to apply for it. Generally, banks will approve your card request if you meet all the eligibility criteria – minimum annual income and age – have all the required documents, and meet the expected credit score.

What is the minimum annual income requirement to apply for a credit card in Singapore?

Most banks need you to earn at least S$30,000 per year to apply for a credit card, but some banks also give cards with low credit limit to people with an annual income of S$18,000 upwards.

What should be the minimum income for foreigners and non-residents of Singapore to get a credit card?

In order to get a credit card in Singapore, non-residents and foreigners must have an income of S$40,000 or more per year.

How long will my credit card application take?

This depends on the bank. Some banks process the application within the day if you meet all the eligibility criteria, some banks take 24 to 48 hours, while some even take up to 7 working days.

Can I apply for more than one credit card?

Yes, you can. But approval for more than 1 credit card will depend on your repayment capacity, outstanding balance of other credit cards, and credit score.

How do banks decide my credit limit?

Your credit limit depends on your monthly income, other existing loans and repayment capacity. Usually, it is 4 times the monthly income of an individual.

How do I increase my credit limit?

You can get your credit limit increased under 3 circumstances:

Your salary has increased.

You have an emergency situation and need a temporary credit limit hike to get through it.

You are going abroad and might need additional funds to meet the expenses. Here again, you can get a temporary credit limit hike.

In the case of reward points, every use of the card returns points that can be redeemed for gifts or other products/services that are stipulated by the credit card company. In the case of cashback, every time the credit card is used at a designated outlet, a part of the amount paid is deposited back to the cardholder. Cashback can be used to adjust against the repayment applicable on the credit card.

Can I use credit cards for small payments such as S$5?

Yes, you can use credit cards for any amount of payment, subject to your credit limit.

Do I have to pay interest on my credit card?

You have to pay interest on any amount that is outstanding after the due date is over. This interest rate is calculated on a daily basis until you pay the pending amount. For example, if on a bill of S$1,380 you pay S$1,000 in a particular month, you have to pay interest on S$380.

What is effective interest rate (EIR)?

EIR is the total interest you have to pay on your card balance after the due date. Divide the EIR by 365 or 366 (number of days in the year) and you will get your daily interest rate.

What is meant by Finance Charge?

The interest, fees and other charges that are associated with the credit card usage is collectively known as Finance Charges.

What is a chargeback?

If any of the transactions made on the credit card is not actually done by the cardholder, the cardholder can file a chargeback demand with the bank. The bank will investigate the case, confirm whether the transaction was indeed not made by you, and pay you the money back. It is a kind of customer protection plan.

In case of loss or theft of card, what should I do?

In case of loss, theft or damage of card, the bank can issue a replacement card. You need to inform the bank as soon as you discover the loss, and ensure that the right steps – such as filing an FIR if the card is stolen – are taken.

Where I can pay my credit card bill?

You can pay the credit card bills in various ways:

At AXS Stations

At SAM Machines

At ATM and cash deposit machines

through online banking

Using the bank’s mobile app

Through phone banking

SMS Pay by registering for this service with the bank first, and only if you wish to pay the minimum amount or the full amount

Fast And Secure Transfers (FAST) payment mode under Transfer Funds from Citibank or other banks

What is balance transfer facility?

The act of transferring the outstanding balance from one credit card to another card issued by a different bank is known as credit card balance transfer. This is usually done to avail lower the interest rates as part of recurring offers that are usually promoted by credit card issuers in Singapore.

Note: Any and all rates mentioned above are subject to change as per the bank's policies. Please ensure that you check the latest rates applicable before applying.

News About Credit Cards

Mastercard announced that it plans to use biometric technology for validating payments by April 2019. Once implemented, customers will be able to complete Mastercard transactions using fingerprint or facial recognition.

The Ministry of Manpower (MoM) is reviewing the Employment Act for the first time since 2012 and is seeking public feedback on various aspects of the Act. It said that the review is aimed at aligning the Act with changing employment scene in Singapore.

Mastercard is offering exclusive movie deals at Cathay Cineplexes. Buy movie tickets starting from S$8.50 and also get S$1 discount on any kind of a combo you purchase. The validity of this Mastercard promo has been extended until 31 December 2018.

In a surprising move, Singapore Airlines has decided to put its plan to impose a surcharge on tickets booked with credit cards for Economy Lite flyers on a backburner. This comes a day after it issued a circular notifying the public of the plan.

The Singapore tourism industry is expected to end the year on a high thanks to better average occupancy rate. While the total visitor count for the year surpassing 17 million remains a possibility, concerns remain amid stressed retail revenue figures.

26th December 2017

Handling your credit card bills during an emergency

Emergencies are situations that we don’t really foresee and they often tend to catch you off-guard. Having credit card bills to pay can be quite a difficult scenario in times of emergencies – be it family emergencies, natural calamities or medical emergencies. Here are some tips that you can employ to deal with your credit card payments during tumultuous times:

• Talk to your bank/financial institution: More often than not, banks accommodate requests to work a plan, especially during times of emergencies. Devise a plan along with your bank to manage your debts – this way, you can significantly reduce the psychological burden.

• Prioritise payments without discounting interest: Credit card payments attract interest and a whole lot of other charges including late payment charges and other penalties for overdues and defaults If your debt isn’t too huge, you can plan and prioritise to make appropriate payments by the due date and get it done with.

• Make regular payments before an emergency actually knocks: Making regular payments on your credit cards will keep you better placed to negotiate with the bank to work a repayment plan. So avoid defaults and keep your credit score high.

22nd September 2017

Best time to apply for credit cards

There are several periods of time that are ideal to apply for credit cards and here some of them:

• When a new credit card is introduced by the bank - This is one of the best times to apply for a credit card because you get the chance to make great use of all the rewards and perks offered before the bank changes their terms and conditions. It pays to be an early adopter, literally!

• Wait till you become eligible for promotions and sign-up perks - Many banks limit their best sign-up perks to new customers of the bank. A new customer is one who has not cancelled a credit card with the bank in the last 12 months. So, if you still fall under the “existing customer” bracket, it is better to wait so you can make the best use of the credit card perks.

• When you find a credit card to best serve your needs and interests - The best time to apply for a credit card will always be when you find one that best suits your requirements, at any point in time. You can make the most of the card only when you find a card that offers perks on what you are most likely to spend on the card.

18th August 2017

Cashless payments picking up in Singapore

Banks in Singapore are boosting transactions through cashless modes, joining the efforts of various fintech companies and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, in making the country a Smart Financial Centre.

According to data, between 2013 and 2016, there was a growth of 42% in mobile wallet transactions in Singapore. Singapore banks are investing in fintech in order to compete in the mobile and other cashless payment segments. They are also playing the role of accelerators or incubators for fintech start-ups in the country.

DBS and OCBC banks are leading the game through apps such as DBS PayLah! and OCBC OneTouch. These banks are also allowing payments through QR codes, with DBS PayLah! Gaining over 200 merchants in May 2017.

However, the banks are bearing higher costs to remain in the fray. Hiring technical specialists is one of the main areas where the banks would end up spending more as fintech becomes rampant.

28th June 2017

Virtual payment scheme by UOB will be available for local businesses

United Overseas Bank (UOB), Singapore has launched a virtual payment scheme for local businesses to help them in managing their cashflow better. The scheme functions like a credit card. It enables small and medium businesses to pay immediately while the company buying the product will get interest-free credit for as long as 90 days.

The first company to use UOB virtual payment in South-east Asia is NEC Asia Pacific. The company along with its 18 SME suppliers will be a part of the trial period. Using the virtual payment option, NEC APAC has brought down the processing time from 60 days to fewer than seven days within which invoices are being received.

Finance director of NEC APAC, Sandra Kwok said that the company has received a good feedback about the scheme from their employees as well as their suppliers. The scheme has enabled them to pay with a credit card if their suppliers do not accept this form of payment. This has helped their finance team in cutting down the time spent on deciding the payment. It has also minimized the number of human errors as the process is largely done via computers these days, she said.

this is a great all-in-one card. I don't like carrying too many credit cards in my wallet but i still want to get decent rewards. The HSBC revolution card does just that cause its accelerated points for dining, online and entertainment covers quite a lot of bases.

I like the HSBC revolution card. It fits my lifestyle and gives me 2 miles on the categories that are most relevant to me. There are other cards out there that offer better 'mileage' for these categories, but i dont think there's any that offers this combination.

There's no competition when it comes to cashback on recurring telco bills. With the HSBC Visa Platinum card, I get 5% off every month just by spending $400 every month. It works out for me because since my combined starhub bill is already more than $400.

I've got a family of 5 and monthly insurance premiums eat into my savings quite a bit. I'm glad that the HSBC Advance card allows me to earn $35 cashback on insurance premiums every month. I made sure to become an Advance Banking customer to get an additional 1% cashback.

I got the HSBC Advance card when they had a nice sign-up promotion, but aside from using it on my insurance premiums, I don't think it's a very useful card. There aren't many other perks a HSBC card gives, unlike other bank cards.

Although the HSBC Advance card has a cashback cap, unlike the Amex or Stan Chart versions, I find that I can still comfortably spend within the limit and occasionally even get 2.5% cashback. I'll use a different cashback card for things like groceries or dining, and use the Advance card for purchases that usually don't earn cashback on other cards.